By supporting Lifelites with a gift in your Will you are helping to change children’s lives, empowering them to play, create and communicate, and giving families unforgettable moments of connection and joy through the power of assistive technology.
Gift in Will - Paul's Story
Making memories, for generations
A gift in your will can be the most significant donation you ever make. For former Trustee Paul Withams, remembering Lifelites is a way to make a positive, lasting impact on the world.
Paul Withams will never forget the moment he saw the power of technology to transform the lives of children with life-limiting conditions.
“This young lad came into the hospice. A chirpy chap, around seven years old. Foodball mad,” recalls Paul. “But he was living with a condition that affected his skin, and was on a drip, so he wasn’t allowed to go outside let alone kick a ball.
“We set him and his brother up on the Magic Carpet, which is like a high-end, interactive projector. You play with a virtual ball, which bounces around the screen on the floor. Honestly, you should have heard the hilarity and laughter, the screams of delight. It was a beautiful moment of fun and inclusivity.”
Paul, who works in financial services, first came across Lifelites when his Freemasons group in Essex were raising money for the charity. Moved by the powerful impact on children’s lives, he became gradually more involved and joined the Lifelites board of Trustees in 2014.
Paul spent seven years as a Trustee, lending his expertise in change management to the fundraising and public relations work. He travelled to hospices, talked to parents, and met countless children with life-limiting conditions.
For Paul, it was a natural next step to add Lifelites as a beneficiary in his will.
“What more powerful way is there to be remembered than by making a positive difference to society, children and families.”
“I’ve seen the impact of Lifelites, and the money I leave will, I hope, secure the same powerful outcomes in the future. The smiles on children’s faces, the families suddenly uplifted at a time of real difficulty; it’s about creating memories and laughter.”
With technology able to profoundly improve children’s lives today, Paul is excited about what it could achieve for children and young people in the future?
“Imagine what will be unlocked for children with life-limiting conditions, by technology, in years to come,” said Paul. “Gifts in wills mean Lifelites can always provide cutting-edge kit to children as soon as it’s available.”
Paul, who has two grown-up children and three step-children, says amending his will to include Lifelites was a simple, easy process. He added, “I often met children in hospices, and hospices were never the sad places people expect them to be. It’s the same with thinking about your will. Remembering Lifelites in your will can be a positive, uplifting experience which can make an amazing difference in the world.”
Your pledge can help create a world of fun, inclusion and happiness for every child and young person with a life-limiting condition. Having an up-to-date Will also makes sure your wishes are made clear and that your loved ones are looked after when you’re gone.
Lifelites is a proud and trusted partner of the children’s palliative care sector across Britain and Ireland, providing life-changing technology, specialised training and technical support since 1999.